Sorting through those changes on Sharks’ 3rd and 4th lines: who’s in, who’s out (for now at least)

No real surprise that Todd McLellan made today’s skate extremely optional, not after three games (and three wins) in four nights up and down the Pacific Coast.

Only a few players skated, though everyone was in the building for team meetings and off-ice workouts, what with the Washington Capitals providing some more, um, challenging competition Saturday night than the last two teams – at least based on the standings.

Overshadowed a little in the coverage of the past two games has been the changes McLellan implemented on the third and fourth lines – and it’s probably fair enough to say it’s hard to distinguish which is which the past two nights based on ice time.

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“I hate giving titles or numbers to each of the lines because every night it can change,” McLellan said today.

Against Columbus, maybe the nominal third line was Brad Winchester (10:58), Andrew Desjardins (12:06) and Jamie McGinn (11:46) with Andrew Murray (9:15), Tommy Wingels (10:35) and Michal Handzus (14:01, including 3:30 of power play time) defined as the fourth.

“We knew we had to play four lines consistently, playing three in four against a fresh team,” McLellan said of his strategy against Columbus, “so we tried to move people around to create those lines and I think we benefited from it.”

Going forward?

“What will we look like tomorrow against Washington?,” the coach said. “That still remains to be seen.”

However you look at those lines, don’t view it as any kind of demotion for Handzus, who would have played even more minutes if the Sharks had any penalties to kill, but they were never short-handed.

“He’s a very reliable guy,” McLellan said of Handzus, “and sometimes you can put him with people and he takes care of them.”

*****The odd-man out was Torrey Mitchell and McLellan said that was a byproduct of his performance against Anaheim the previous night even while saying good things about Mitchell’s overall performance this season.

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Mitchell, obviously, didn’t enjoy the night off.

“Obviously in the coach’s eyes I’m not playing the way I should,” Mitchell said, adding he would “just put my head down and keep working hard.”

If the coach isn’t satisfied with Mitchell’s work, is he?

“Nope, I’m not,” Mitchell said. “I wish I had a few more points offensively and I wish I had a little more impact on some games.”

Specifically, what does he think he needs to do better?

“Maybe try to be a little more creative in the offensive zone,” he said, “and be harder on pucks.”

*****Wingels was in an NHL game for the first time since Oct. 17 and gave himself a review of “not bad.”

“There were some good shifts and there were some shifts I could have done more, whether that’s being better positioned or doing something with the puck,” he said. “That’s something I can reflect on and try to improve going into next game.”

McLellan said he thought Wingels “filled in very well. He gave us good minutes. He created some stuff on the forecheck, responsible defensively. It’s sometimes hard to play that first game, just to fit in again, and I’m sure he felt good about it and will move forward now.”

Wingels had a good pre-season, but was assigned to Worcester after playing in three of the first four games.

“I think you’re always disappointed when you get sent down,” Wingels said. “People play hockey to be at the highest level and play in the NHL, but at the same time it’s a good opportunity to look at yourself and see what you need to work on.”

McLellan noted today that it was Marty Havlat’s return to the lineup back in mid-October that prompted the team to send Wingels back to Worcester where he could play a lot of minutes rather than a few in the NHL.

Havlat’s current absence, of course, has at least something to do with Wingels’ return, though it was Benn Ferriero who got the first call-up. So how competitive are things in Worcester? Did Wingels think he should have been the one getting brought up to San Jose right away?

“Maybe a sense it could have been me, but I was very happy for Benny,” Wingels said. “We were playing together and a lot of my success down there was because of him. I think he deserves the opportunity up here and I was happy to see him get it.”

*****While we’re focusing on the third and fourth lines, let me belatedly note that Thursday night’s 2-1 victory over Columbus was the first time Andrew Murray faced the only other team he’s played for in the NHL.

“It was different after being on that side of things for three and a half years, paying against a lot of the same guys I played with,” Murray said. “It was strange, but once the puck drops it’s a game and you compete like you do against everybody else. It was nice to get the win from them.”

Much chirping?

“A few times, the bench a couple times,” he said. “It was a group thing and it was all in fun, I think. We play ’em again next week and we can get back at it.”

*****My colleague Mark Emmons spent the day on the Capitals’ side of things for a print edition story on Alexander Ovechkin who happens to be arriving in San Jose on an extremely hot streak after a so-so start to the season. Not sure if my co-worked plans to stop by WTC today, but his story on The Great Eight is now linked in the right-hand column.

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

Have you gotten any whiff of the brain trust’s ideas for Nittymaki DP?

homer

My mental image of Mitchell used to be his pre-injury highlight-reel goal of getting tripped up, getting back on his feet and scoring. (I know you’ve all seen it).

Now, all I can see is him taking a flying leap at someone behind the net and bouncing off into a heap. (was it the Ducks or Nucks – too many games this week to keep track). He could use a little bulk. Mo’ cheeseburgers pleez. But don’t slow yourself down.

HockeyChick

re: goalie discussion in prior post

Taking only Griess and Niemi into account Sharks are ranked 7th in goalie power rankings…

DP-
Thanks for the insight particularly regarding Mitchell and Wingels. In Worcester, are the schemes and terminology pretty much identical in order to ease transitions? Or are they pretty much given a playbook to soak up on the way over?
On the other hand, I haven’t felt this comfortable with the team in a long time. Good to see them back and it’s going to be a good run.

SactoShark

I hope they give Wingles another start and let #17 sit where he does the team the most good.

Wingles looked like he was fighting it a little bit last night

Buddy Elf

Sacto: I agree… we don’t need Mitchell trying to get creative in the offensive zone. He can get creative in the press box.

HockeyChick

@Dirty – that’s a good question. It would make sense for the systems to be the same, but I wonder if the level of play dictates certain adjustments. I would think the adrenaline/nerves etc of a call up might make it hard to retain the playbook cram session on the flight.

I am really liking how the call ups has for the most part seamlessly integrated into the lineup.

David Pollak

Dirty, HockeyChick -

Sharks try to duplicate their San Jose system in Worcester as much as possible to ease all transitions.

David

HockeyChick

Thanks Mr. Pollack! : )

sharksfan

Finally Taco Torrey gets benched. This guy falls down in the corners a lot, hardly ever wins a puck battle, and really has no finishing skills.

Giving Wingles a chance is a good idea.

Justin Braun needs to be less predictable about his shots from the right point. He always shoots from that position even if nobody is in front. If he moves laterally, fakes a slapper or passes that would create more chances imo. Right now he is the equivalent of Vlasic dumping it in from the left point probability wise. Annoying and so predictable without any results.

Dirty

Thanks, DP. Just a random question.

Snow Shovel

HockeyChick – There should be no space between : and ). Try it.

Sharkz

I want Mitchell on the ice. He works hard every cshift even if he’s not shown he can finish, the team is already slow and without him even slower, and a little reckless abandon is infectious. What I’d like out of the line-up is his lame nickname.

Dirty

HockeyChick-
I figured the same thing, but I wouldnt’ve slept a wink if I never got to the bottom of it.

SactoShark

Mitchell’s had 4 years to prove his ‘reckless abandon’ can help or is infectious. With poor results.

Not only can he not finish, he has a light stick, is one of the easier players in the NHL to move off the puck, is weak along the boards and in the corners. He has good speed, decent puck handler, decent forechecker – but the numbers do not lie. He has not produced.

The kids from Worcester (McGinn, Benny, Wingles-tbd) have more heart, hustle just as much, and, overall, make more positive contributions.

The only reason he is still here is the rest of the league knows his book and he has little to no trade value.

The Torrey Mitchell experiment needs to come to a conclusion.

Ira

Sacto Shark, I totally agree, I’m ready to have Mitchell play…. for another team. Really, enough.

SactoShark

BTW, it’s not like I hate the guy (although he is smug)

He *is* a plus 14 career player, and has scored some of the *sweetest* goals by a Shark over his career, a few good PO goals.

I know many of us on here were pulling for him after he broke his leg. but…hence the Urban Legend tag

Just time for a change

Linkster

Can’t wait to see what TMac cooks up on D to counter Ovechkin, but I gotta feeling it’s gonna be Boyle + Vlasic.

Vlasic is hands-down the D MVP this season and absolutely rocks in the shut-down role. Head-to-head with the Grape Ape tomorrow night, it’s gonna rock.

Let’s go Eddie!

SactoShark

Freaking Ryan….grr

wtrhc

Love Mitchell but can’t agree more that he never wins puck battles and is light on the puck and easy to knock off. He is a gamebreaker though at times just wish he could beef up and get stronger along the boards because thats what we need from him…and his speed

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